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STAR WARS Spinoff Gets a Title, Felicity Jones Starring, and EPISODE VIII News

Bob Iger didn’t bring news about Star Wars: The Force Awakens to The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders today, but he didn’t leave Star Wars fans hanging. He dropped some big news about the first Star Wars spinoff film and Star Wars: Episode VIII. Are you ready?

The title of the first Star Wars spinoff is Rogue One. It is being directed by Gareth Edwards and written by Chris Weitz. It will star Felicity Jones. The story for Rogue One came from John Knoll, the chief creative officer at Industrial Light and Magic. Knoll will serve as one of the executive producers on the film, too. Filming begins this summer in London and Rogue One will be out on December 16, 2016. With that title, I’m hoping (praying?) it’s a movie about X-wing pilots.

In Episode VIII news, Iger confirmed Rian Johnson is on board to write and direct. And he shared the release date which might be different than you expect: it will be in theaters May 26, 2017. Hopefully they’ll stick with the May release for the final film in the sequel trilogy too because tradition!

What do you think about the title for the spinoff? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, and don’t miss Jessica Chobot breaking down all the first Star Wars spinoff film on a recent episode of Nerdist News:

IMAGE: StarWars.com

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Comments

  1. ericmci says:

    Not one of these movies is out yet and there are how many spinoffs already??Yeah- Disney owning this has got to be great- right?

  2. Lou says:

    but how can they number the inevitable sequel? “Rogue One 2?”

  3. scott says:

    wasn’t starkiller’s ship the “rogue shadow”

  4. Chambers says:

    rogue one? that’s wedge’s callsign. will this be about wedge and rogue squadron? hope so. also hope that felicity jones doesn’t screw things up. she’s a terrible actress.

    • Editor66 says:

      Yeah, Felicity Jones…the “terrible actress” who was just nominated for an OSCAR this year… Mmmkay.

  5. Iain says:

    YES! A movie about Rouge Squadron would be awesome!

    • ed says:

      Rouge?
      Be funny if they’re using blue x-wings.. (

      • ed says:

        (Hmm, looks like the site’s comments don’t accept Kindle emojis. Like the K doesn’t do fat fingers too well with its keyboard.)
        But an announced female star–lead?– and the title sure don’t sound like ‘Seven Samurai’ in space with bounty hunters and the Death Star plans…

  6. Darby says:

    Rogue One as in…. Rogue Squadron????? Yesssss.